The Suva International Short Film Festival (SISFF) returns to Fiji’s capital for a three‑day celebration of storytelling, craft, and culture in mid‑September 2025, with official communications confirming a September festival at Damodar City Event Cinemas in Suva and public “save the date” posts setting the window across 11–13 September 2025 in this year’s events calendar. Organized with strong support from Film Fiji, SISFF invites entries from Fiji and across the Pacific, runs filmmaker education components, and screens an international mix of shorts that reflect the region’s voices alongside global perspectives, continuing a multi‑year commitment to audience development and industry training in the country’s main movie hub.
Dates, venue, and call for entries
- Festival window: Film Fiji’s Training & Development listings confirm SISFF 2025 is set for mid‑September at Damodar Cinemas Suva, published as 16–18 September in earlier notices, while subsequent save‑the‑date posts and events listings align on the long weekend of 11–13 September across public calendars; organizers signalled selection notifications for 15 August 2025, placing screenings firmly in the second half of September.
- Venue: Damodar City Event Cinemas, Grantham Road, Suva — the commercial cinema complex that hosts major cultural film events in Fiji and provides multiple screens for short film blocks, gala sessions, and talks.
- Submissions: Film Fiji’s call opened in April with a final deadline of 13 June 2025 and selection announcements on 15 August 2025, encouraging filmmakers from Fiji and the Pacific to submit fiction, doc, and animation shorts for curation in SISFF’s 2025 program.
Festival ethos and partners
SISFF is positioned by Film Fiji as both a showcase and a skills bridge, pairing curated screenings with capacity development for emerging creators. Past editions have partnered with world‑leading festivals such as Clermont‑Ferrand to present award‑winning international shorts alongside local work, while Film Fiji has used the platform to link high schools and tertiary students with training via initiatives like the pilot Media Learning Program in collaboration with AFTRS and Fiji’s Ministry of Education. This combination of exhibition and education continues in 2025, with training and development pages promoting SISFF in tandem with a broader year‑round film culture that includes the European Film Festival, the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival, and touring programs hosted at Damodar.
What to expect on screen
- Pacific stories first: Short films by Fijian and Pacific Island filmmakers form the festival’s spine, with themes spanning identity, environment, family, migration, and contemporary youth culture, presented in high‑quality DCPs in a mainstream cinema environment.
- International selections: Curated shorts from global partners appear in special programs, delivering a comparative lens on technique and narrative trends and giving local audiences access to the best of world short cinema without leaving Suva.
- Community premieres: SISFF acts as a welcoming premiere stage for student films, first‑time directors, and micro‑budget projects, often paired with Q&As that encourage audience engagement and feedback for creators.
Program shape and schedule
While the final 2025 timetable publishes closer to the event, the working pattern is consistent:
- Opening night: A gala shorts program with a filmmaker welcome and partner acknowledgments at Damodar City.
- Thematic blocks: Two days of shorts grouped by theme or form, such as “Pacific Voices,” “Animation & Experimenta,” “Docs of the Deep Blue,” and “Youth Lens,” each followed by brief discussions when talent is present.
- Industry sessions: Morning or midday workshops and panels hosted by Film Fiji and guests, covering topics such as directing actors, producing on a budget, grant writing, and festival strategy, aimed at lifting production craft across Fiji and the region.
Selection and awards
Film Fiji’s April call for entries outlined the submission window and timelines leading to a mid‑August selection notice, after which the festival publishes the official selection list and schedules Q&As where possible; SISFF’s partnership with international festivals in prior years underscores a juried or curated recognition component that highlights excellence while emphasizing learning and access over competition. Audience choice commendations and youth awards are frequently deployed at Pacific short film showcases and are likely to feature in SISFF 2025 to nurture community involvement and celebrate emerging voices.
How SISFF fits Fiji’s 2025 cultural calendar
SISFF lands in a packed September week for Suva and Nadi, with the Home Coming Festival in Nadi (Sept 5–7), the Munro Leys Suva Marathon (Sept 6), and SISFF (Sept 11–13) creating a continuous run of cultural and sport events that position Suva as a creative hub mid‑month. Film Fiji’s listings also highlight a busy first half of the year with the European Film Festival and other touring programs, so SISFF serves as the bespoke local‑plus‑Pacific platform in September where Fijian films stand center stage.
Travel planning and practical info
- Getting there: Suva’s Damodar City complex sits on Grantham Road, about 25–30 minutes from Nausori Airport (SUV) and 3–4 hours by road from Nadi; visitors flying internationally into Nadi can connect by domestic flight or bus to Suva.
- Where to stay: Hotels near Albert Park and Victoria Parade, including the Holiday Inn Suva and Grand Pacific Hotel, place guests close to cinemas, restaurants, and waterfront walks between sessions.
- Tickets and access: SISFF traditionally uses cinema‑based ticketing or free public sessions subject to capacity depending on the block and partners; details finalize with the program release following August selection notifications.
- Festival cadence: Plan for evening gala screenings, daytime thematic blocks, and morning or afternoon panels; leave time for meals at Damodar’s eateries or Suva’s center between sessions.
For filmmakers: how to prepare
- Deliverables: With selection notifications slated mid‑August, ensure final exhibition files, captions, and stills are ready; confirm DCP or high‑bitrate file specs with the programming team to avoid last‑minute technical issues.
- Press materials: A concise logline, director’s bio, stills, and a 30–60 second trailer help SISFF and media partners promote the work effectively in the short window between August announcements and mid‑September screenings.
- Audience engagement: Prepare a brief post‑screening talk and consider making a behind‑the‑scenes short for social; audiences value craft insights and cultural context in Q&As.
Why SISFF matters
SISFF is one of the few dedicated short‑film platforms in the central Pacific that pairs theatrical presentation with real training pathways. Film Fiji’s coordination with global festivals and education partners shows a sustained effort to build Fiji’s film ecosystem from classrooms to cinemas, and a belief that short films can carry local stories to the world while strengthening national identity at home. For audiences, SISFF is a chance to see Suva’s perspectives mirrored on the big screen alongside international excellence, all in a welcoming festival atmosphere at Damodar.
Verified details at a glance
- Event: Suva International Short Film Festival (SISFF) 2025.
- Dates: Mid‑September; public save‑the‑date and event listings cite Sept 11–13, 2025; Film Fiji’s calendar posts SISFF as Sept 16–18 in earlier notices, with final schedule locked after Aug 15 selection announcements.
- Venue: Damodar City Event Cinemas, Suva.
- Submissions timeline: Deadline June 13, 2025; selection notification Aug 15, 2025.
- Program: Pacific and international shorts, opening gala, thematic blocks, filmmaker Q&As, and training sessions hosted with Film Fiji partners.
Circle mid‑September in the calendar, book a base near Suva’s waterfront, and plan to spend three days discovering new voices at Damodar City. Follow Film Fiji and SISFF channels for the final program drop after the August selection announcements, then claim seats early for the gala and the blocks that speak most. Whether a filmmaker, student, or curious movie lover, SISFF offers a front‑row seat to Pacific storytelling on a big screen — and a vibrant space to learn, connect, and be inspired by what comes next.